Shoe having stitched-reversed insole



Sept. 8, y1964 Filed April 12, 1961 G. H. BINGHAM, JR 3,147,558

SHOE HAVING STITCHED-REVERSED INSOLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Gear e am ft BY gf/ 2 ATTYS.

Sept. 8, 1964 ca. H. BINGHAM, JR

SHOE HAVING STITCHED-REVERSED INSOLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1961 IFIG.6

IF I G. 9

INVENTOIL ezZy/awz,

a. ru,

ATT'YS.

United States Patent O 3,147,558 SHOE HAVING STITCHED-REVERSED INSGLE George H. Bingham, Jr., Westminster, Md., assignor to Cambridge Rubber Company, Taneytown, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Apr. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 102,540 3 Claims. (Cl. 36-14) This invention pertains to footwear, more especially to a slipper or shoe of the casual type and, in particular, a shoe having an outer sole of light-transmitting waterproof material, and to a method of making such a shoe.

When the outer sole of a shoe, made in the customary way, is of a light transmitting material, for instance a White plastic, and the upper is of a darker material, for example of textile fabric of a strong contrasting color such as red or dark brown, difficulty has been experienced in preventing the lower edge of the lasted-in upper material from showing through and thus disiiguring the exposed surface of the outer sole. A principal object of the present invention is to provide a shoe of the above character whose bottom structure is so devised as to make it possible to employ a translucent light colored, or even white plastic or other waterproof material as the outer sole and an upper of any relatively darker color without danger that the undersurface of the outer sole will be disfigured by transmission of the color of the upper material downwardly through the outer sole. A further object is to provide a novel methodof making a shoe or slipper of the casual type wherein the upper is so united to the inner sole that even though the outer sole be of translucent, white plastic and though the upper be of a strongly contrasting color, the colored material of the upper does not extend down into the outer sole far enought to produce a disfiguring color visible at the undersurface of the latter.

Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed out in the .following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevation illustrative, by way of example, of a shoe embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section, to larger scale, on the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the shoe of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section through an upper and inner sole, lasted according to the present invention, illustrating the step of providing the shoe with an outer sole; Y

FIG. 5 is a view looking down onto the upper surface of the inner sole of a shoe, made in accordance with the present invention, the upper having been trimmed away down approximately to the level of the inner sole, and showing an arch support such as may be provided in accordance with the practice of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a section, to enlarged scale, on the line 6 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a shoe made in accordance with customary prior practice; and illustrating how the color of the upper material may show through the plastic outer sole if the latter be thin and of a light color;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section illustrating customary and prior practice in the connection of the upper and inner sole;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view, to small scale, of a last designed for use in making a shoe having an arch support like that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of an assembled and united upper and insole, the assembly being inside out; and

FIG. l1 is a fragmentary section, on line 11-11 0f FIG. 10, but to larger scale.

Referring to the drawings (FIGS. 7 and 8), which are illustrative of customary prior practice, it may be noted that the edge portion of the lower or lasting margin 10 (FIG. 8) of the upper U and the edge portion of the margin 11 of the insole Z1 are directed downwardly and united in parallel relation by the sewed seam 12. When this assembled and united upper and insole are provided (for example, by injection molding) with an outer sole S of a translucent, light colored material, such as white plastic, and when that part of the outer sole, which underlies the foot, is quite thin, for instance of the order of from F" to 5/16 in thickness, the lower edges of the downwardly directed, united marginal portions of the upper and insole are so close to the undersurface B of the outer sole that, if the upper, for instance of textile fabric, be of a color which contrasts strongly with the color of the outer sole, this color shows through at the underside of the outer sole as a more or less distinct line, as indicated at C (FIG. 7), thus detracting from the appearance of the bottom of the shoe. In fact, if as in some shoes, the insole is not substantially thicker than the width of the lasting margin, the lower edges of the upper may actually be exposed, in places, at least, at the bottom of the shoe.

To avoid this imperfection, the present invention contemplates the manufacture of a shoe having an outer sole of a translucent plastic, the plastic being of any selected type such as is commonly employed in the manufacture of footwear, in such a way that the united portions of the upper and inner sole are not directed downwardly toward the undersurface of the outer sole. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, the improved shoe comprises the upper U1, the outer sole S1, the heel H and the inner sole Z1, but, as shown in FIG. 2, the united portions 10a of the insole, and 11a of the upper are so connected by a row of fastening elements, for example, stitches, constituting a sewed seam 12a that, after the last is introduced into the assembled upper and insole, these margins 11a, as shown in FIG. 2, extend substantially horizontally, with an Varea of the insole Z1 interposed between the margin 11a of theupper and the upper surface of the outersole. Since the inner sole is usually of an opaque material and since, if it is not opaque, it is usually possible to make it of a material, for example a textile fabric, which does not differ substantially in color from the outer sole, the danger of transmittal of the color of the upper through the outer sole is substantially eliminated.

While the outer sole may be applied in any desired and usual way, it is contemplated that it may be applied as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 4, that is, by fitting the united upper U1 and insole Z1 (after a last L hasbeen inserted) into a properly shaped opening bounded by the flange P at the top of a hollow mould M, into which plastic to form the outer sole may be injected under pressure through the pipe G, it being understood that force, directed as indicated by the arrow F (FIG. 4) will be applied to hold the lasted shoe in place during the injection of the plastic and while the plastic is being cured or partially cured. As clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the result of this procedure is to embed the folded margin of the insole in the substance of the outer sole, the latter extending outwardly well beyond the junction of the insole and upper so as to protect the folded margins of the insole and the seam which unites the insole and upper from moisture, external objects and Wear.

The novel arrangement of the united margins of the lasted upper and insole, as above described and as shown in FIG. 2, is obtained, in accordance with the present invention, by cutting both upper and insole to accurate size, but each within a narrow lasting margin; turning the upper inside out, then assembling and uniting the edge portions of the margins 10a and 11a by a row of fastening elements, such as the stitches of a sewed seam 12a (FIGS. 10 and 11) While said margins are directed downwardly, but, contrary to customary practice, so that the outer surface of the margin of the upper is in contact with the upper surface of the margin of the insole. After the completion of the seam 12a, the assembly is turned rightside out and the assembly is slip lasted by forcing a last into it, with the result that the united portions of the margins automatically assume the positions illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 4. By so forming the outer sole, in situ, from plastic in fluid form by the injection molding process the material of the outer sole is integrally bonded to all surfaces of the upper and insole which it contacts, being forced by the pressure employed into the interstices or pores of the textile fabric. As noted in FIGS. 2 and 6, the outer sole extends upwardly beyond the junction X (FIG. 2) of the inwardly directed marginal portion of the upper with the upper proper to form a foxing which is integral with the tread portion of the outer sole.

By the employment of a last of proper shape, it is possible during the above process of attaching the outer sole, to provide the shoe with an arch support F, as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

For this purpose the bottom of the last L3 (FIG. 9) may be provided at the desired location of the arch support with a cavity or recess A, so that when the lasted shoe is placed in a mold, such as shown in FIG. 4, and plastic under pressure is injected, the plastic will rise at the location of the cavity A in the last bottom, as shown at F2 (FIG. 6), thus, at this point, lifting the insole and the marginal portion of the upper, said parts being suitably patterned with this in view, so as to provide an archsupporting elevation at this point.

By this very simple, but novel procedure, discoloration of the outer sole, such as above described, is avoided and the under-surface of the outer sole is of uniform color and unblemished, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has herein been disclosed by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe comprising, in combination, an outer sole of a light-transmitting plastic, said outer sole having an upper face and a lower face and having a marginal portion, an upper having an outer element, at least, of textile fabric of a color such that if contacted the upper face of the lasting margin including inwardly and overlying the outer sole, said upper comprising a lasting margin having an edge portion which, in the completed shoe, is substantially horizontal, the major portion of the width of the lasting margin inclining inwardly and overlaying the marginal portion of the outer sole, some of the material of the outer sole permeating the txetile fabric of the upper and thereby permanently bonding a substantial area of the upper to the outer sole, a substantially horizontal light-occluding element interposed between said horizontally disposed edge portion of the lasting margin and the outer sole and whose lower surface, throughout substantially its entire area, is permanently bonded to the material of the outer sole, and stitches which unite said light-occluding element to the horizontally disposed edge portion of the lasting margin, said light-occluding element being of a character such as to prevent the downward passage of light rellected from said horizontally disposed edge portion of the lasting margin whereby the colei of said edge portion of the lasting margin is made invisible at the lower surface of the outer sole.

2. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the marginal portion of the outer sole is substantially thicker than the intervening portion of the outer sole, the thickness of said intervening portion not substantially exceeding of an inch, and wherein the horizontally disposed edge portion of the lasting margin is above the thinner portion of the outer sole, further characterized in that the light-occluding element which occludes the downward passage of light reilected from said horizontally disposed edge portion of the lasting margin is the marginal portion of an insole of a size and shape such that its marginal portion underlies the horizontally disposed edge portion of the lasting margin throughout substantially the entire extent ofthe latter.

3. A shoe according to claim 2, wherein the outer sole is white but translucent and the shoe upper is of a darker color and the marginal portion of the insole, which is interposed between the outer sole and the horizontally disposed edge portion of the lasting margin, is of a character such that neither the insole nor the darker color of the horizontally disposed edge portion of the lasting margin of the upper is visible at the lower surface of the outer sole.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,319 Marino Nov. 8, 1932 y2,081,226 Cocozella May 25, 1937 2,407,352 Stritter Sept. 10, 1946 2,437,030 Hoza Mar. 2, 1948 2,474,558 Tholson June 28, 1949 2,479,006 Garth Aug. 16, 1949 2,499,751 Hoza Mar. 7, 1950 2,652,637 Hardman Sept. 22, 1953 2,845,724 Spaulding Aug. 5, 1958 2,996,814 Baker Aug. 22, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 516,051 Canada Aug. 30, 1955 26,685 Denmark Sept. 20, 1920 1,245,945 France Oct. 3, 1960 UNITED `STATE-S PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No., 3,147,558 Selommbfer 8, 1964 George H. Bingham, Jr.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat- .ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below. V

Column 3, line 4f?, beginning with "fabric of" strike out all to and including "the width of" in line 5l, same column 3, and insert instead fabric of a color such that if contacted with the upper face of the outer sole would be visible at the lower face of the outer sole, said upper comprising a lasting margin having an edge portion which, in the completed shoe, is substantially horizontal, the major portion of the width of Signed and sealed this 5th day of January 1965.

(SEAL) Attest;

ERNEST W. 'SWlDER EDWARD J. BRENNER ttesting ffficer Commissionerlof Patents 

1. A SHOE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN OUTER SOLE OF A LIGHT-TRANSMITTING PLASTIC, SAID OUTER SOLE HAVING AN UPPER FACE AND A LOWER FACE AND HAV ING A MARGINAL PORTION, AN UPPER HAVING AN OUTER ELEMENT, AT LEAST, OF TEXTILE FABRIC OF A COLOR SUCH THAT IF CONTACT ED THE UPPER FACE OF THE LASTING MARGIN INCLUDING INWARDLY AND OVERLYING THE OUTER SOLE, SAID UPPER COMPRISING A LASTING MARGIN HAVING AN EDGE PORTION WHICH, IN THE COMPLETED SHOE, IS SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL, THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE WIDTH OF THE LASTING MARGIN INCLINING INWARDLY AND OVERLAYING THE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE OUTER SOLE, SOME OF THE MATERIAL OF THE OUTER SOLE PERMEATING THE TEXTILE FABRIC OF THE UPPER AND THEREBY PERMANENTLY BONDING A SUBSTANTIAL AREA OF THE UPPER TO THE OUTER SOLE, A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LIGHT-OCCLUDING ELEMENT INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED EDGE PORTION OF THE LASTING MARGIN AND THE OUTER SOLE AND WHOSE LOWER SURFACE, THEROUGHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY ITS ENTIRE AREA, IS PERMANENTLY BONDED TO THE MATERIAL OF THE OUTER SOLE, AND STITCHES WHICH UNITE SAID LIGHT-OCCLUDING ELEMENT TO THE HRIZONTALLY DISPOSED EDGE PORTION OF THE LASTING MARGIN, SAID LIGHT-OCCLUDING ELEMENT BEING OF A CHARACTER SUCH AS TO PREVEN THE DOWNWARD PASSAGE OF LIGHT REFLECTED FROM SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED EDGE PORTION OF THE LASTING MARGIN WHEREBY THE COLER OF SAID EDGE PORTION OF THE LASTING MARGIN IS MADE INVISIBLE AT THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE OUTER SOLE. 